Mineral concentrating plant



Feb. 8, 1927.

A. FRANCE MINERAL CONCENTRATING PLANT Filed Sept. 26, 1923 2 $heets-Sheet 1 unmet: 0mm AW 1 Feb. 8,1927. A'FRANCE 6 6791 MINERAL CONCENTRATING FLANT Filed Se pt. 26,1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 valve.

Patented F eb. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES ANTOINE FRANCE, OF LIE GE, BELGIUM.

MINERAL cononnrnarmo PLANT,

Application filed September 26, l23, Serial No. 664,983, and in Belgium March 14, 1923.

The present invention relates to improvements in mineral concentrating plant, and more particularly to a novel apparatus for controlling the discharge of the products of highest specific gravity eliminated by the turbances in the operation of the liquid streams in the separators and launder. The said discharge-controlling apparatus essentially comprises two juxtaposed compartments, adjacent or otherwise conveniently disposed, which are, after having previously been filled with liquid, alternately put into communication with the discharge orifice at the base of the corresponding separator.

Each of the said compartments has an admission mouth at its upper end and a discharge mouth at its lower end. The two admission months are controlled by means of a single pivoted reversible distributing flap, while the discharge mouths are each controlled by an independent discharge A suitable conveniently actuated mechanism ensures the operation in appropriate relation to each other and in proper sequence of the aforesaid flap and valves and also of a liquid-distributing device, in such a manner that the shutting-off of any one of the two admission months by the reversible distributing flap after the corresponding compartment has been filled will be followed by the opening of the discharge valve of the said compartment for the purpose of emptying the latter while at the same time the discharge valve of the adjacent compartment will be opened. Simultaneously with the shutting off of the admission. mouth of the first-named compartment, the

aforesaid liquid distributing device will act to cut-off the supply of liquid to such compartment and to cause liquid to be admitted into the other compartment. This mechanism may be of any type suitable for the purpose and operated in any convenient manner, the particular constructionthereof forming no part of the present invention.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the dischargecontrolling apparatus according to the invention comprises a cast metal casing a which has its upper portion formed as a neck 6 placed immediately .under and connecting with the discharge orifice or aperture 0 at the base of the corresponding separator of. the concentrating plant. A vertical partition (5 divides the casing a into two equal compartments e and f. A suitably shaped reversible distributing flap g mounted on a pivot pin h extending along the upper end of the partition 03 is capable, accordingto the position in which it is placed, of shutting-ofithe upper.

opening or admission mouth z of one or the other of the compartments 6, f, while the lower openings or discharge mouths y of the said compartments may be closed by means of discharge valves kand Z respectively mounted on pivot pins m extending along the edges of the bifurcated lower portion of the partition d. The drawing shows the compartment f in communication with the base 0 of the separator, the compartment 6 having its admission mouth shut ofl by the reversible distributing flap g. The operation of the apparatus will be readily understood.

The products from the separator sink owing to their gravity into the compartment f, thus expellin the liquid contained therein towards the separator. These products are when sinking suitably directed owing to the shape of the walls and t0 the provision ofprojecting lips such as n, in order to avoid soiling or clogging the seat 0 formed for the flap 9 around the admission mouth 71 of each of the compartments e and When the compartment f is filled, the reversible distribut-ing flap 9 changes position under the action of the operating device to which reference has been made above and which may be operated either mechanically, electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically,- the said fiap thus shutting-off the admission mouth z' of thecompartment f and opening that of the compartment e. The reversible distributing flap g is provided with a fluidtight packing 37 adapted to bear on the seats 0 1n order to obtain a perfect separation of the compartments, and the said flap is moreover provided with integral extensions or guiding lips g serving both to protect the portion of the seats 0 constituted by the upper end of the partition I) and to guide the products towards that of the two admission months 2' which is open for the correspondin position of the flap 7.

Soon af ter the shutting-off of the admission month i of the compartment f by the reversible distributing flap g, the above mentioned operating mechanism causes the opening of the discharge valve Z thus allowing the products contained in the compartment f to leave same via the corresponding discharge mouth fol-subsequent utilization. The liquid filllng the spaces between the particles of the said products also leaves the compartment, thus facilitating the traveling along of the products. The compartment ehaving meanwhile been filled with products, the discharge valve Z of the said compartment fis closed again and soon thereafter the flap 9 is reversed again by the o erating mechanism thus shutting off the a mission mouth of the compartment 0' into the latter, the supply of liquid to the compartment e via the inlet 1* is shut oflf.

' Soon after the reversal of the flap 9 cans ing the admission to the compartment e to be cut-off, the operating mechanism acts to cause the discharge valve is to be opened,

thus allowing the compartment e to be emptied in turn and starting the repeti tion, as far as the compartment e -is concerned of the same cycle of operations as those which have been described above as can following the opening of the discharge valve Z of the compartment 7. i

The. operating mechanism which controls the operation of the flap g and the discharge valves k, l as well as that of the liquid distributing device is designed in such a manner as to impart to the said discharge valves k and I when they are closed a sultable pressure against their seats t, so as to secure complete fluid-tightness b means of the fluid tight packing to wit 1 which such valves is and .Z are provided.

Fig. 2 shows by way of example an embodiment wherem the various movable parts are controlled by a pneumatic operating mechanism actuated by compressed air, i. e. by air under pressure. According to the said Fig. 2, the mechanism for operating the reversible flap 0 comprises two opposed cylinders '0 an 4) arranged horizontally in alinement, with two plungers or pistons having a common piston rod formed as a rack m which meshes with a toothed pinion 7L fixed on the pivot pin h of the flap g, so that the movement of the rack will cause the rotation of the said pivot pin 72 and consequently a change of position of the flap 9.. Similarly the mechanism for operating the discharge valves k and Z com prises a rack to which forms a common piston rod for the two pistons of two opposed cylinders and w arranged horizontally in alinement. The said rack w is in. mesh with two toothed pinions m secured on the pivot pins m of the valves is and Z in such a manner that when one of such valves is in the open position the other is in the closed position. The water or other liquid used is supplied to the two compartments 6 and f by means of supply-pipes 1" leading to the inlets r (Fig. 1) and on which are placed two cocks z and 2 by means of which the supply may be controlled. The operating arms ;1 of these cocks are at their free ends pivotally connected to one of the ends of connecting rods 31 of which the other ends are both pivoted to a central lug formed integrally on the rack to, so that the movement of the latter will also change the position of the cocks z and 2. The rotatable plugsof these cocks are so positioned that when both arms 3 have the same directiondhe passage through the plug of one cock will be in alinement with the longitudinal axis of said cock while the passage through the plug of the other cock will be positioned transversely to the longitudinal axis of such other cock, so that a single movement of the rack 20 will simultaneously shut-oil one cock and open-the other. A indicates a compressed air distributor, of any suitable type or construction, which operates to admit air under pressure in the proper sequence to the cylinders o, o, w and m by way of the compressed air admission pipes 1, 2, 3 and 4, the said distributor being driven at a suitable speed from any convenient source of power by means of a pulley p and belt b. 6, 5, 8 and 7 indicate the exhaust pipes from the cylinders, v, v, a: and 0: respectively to the distributor A, and e is the general exhaust of the said distributor, .to which air under pressure is supplied by means of the general supply pipe 8'.

As it is essential to an eflieient o eration oi the apparatus that the shutting o the dis anism of the type shown in Fig. 2, the sides of the seats t of the valves Z,- and Z adjacent (when the valves are closed) .the free edge of said valves parallel to their pivotal axes are provided with an integral segmentshaped scat-extension k and Z respectively. The curve of these seat extensions is described from the same centre as that of the pivot of the corresponding flap, and as a result each valve has to effect a portion of its opening movement before it actually opens the discharge mouth controlled thereby, and

each valve obturates the discharge mouth controlled thereby befbre having completed its closing movement. The relative initial positions. of. the two valves Z; andZ being taken into account the length of the seat extensions Zc and Z, measured along the curve, is determined in such a manner that each of I said valves on being opened will leave the valve actually opens the discharge) mouth which it controls, an intermediate portion of the said movement during. which both discharge mouths are obt-uratedsimultaneously.v

The operation of the above described mechanism is the following:

Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, that is to say in the position which they occupy when the right hand compartment (f, Fig.

. 1) is being filled, as soon as the said compartment is completelyfull, the distributor operates to allow the admission of air under prezsure into the cylinder :1: by way of the pipe 3, thus causing the piston of the said cylinder and the rack 20 to move in the direction indicated by the arrow, and causing the pistons of the cylinder 0: o expel the air still contained in the last named cylinder by way of the exhaust pipe 7. By this movement of the rack w, the valve Z: is closed and the valve Z is opened to allow of theright hand compartment being emptied.

lVhen the rack w has effected a portion of its movement a little greater than that necessary to cause the valve is to reach the end of the seat extension the distributor acts to cause air to be admitted to the cylinder 1' via the pipe 1, whereby the rack w moves in the direction indicated by the arrow on the one hand, causing the air still contained in the cylinder '1) to be expelled via the pipe 5, and on the other hand causing the pinion h to be rotated and the flap to be reversed, and the arrangement is such that the rack 11: will have completed its movement just a little before the rack/w has effected a portion of its movement suiticient to cause the valve Z to leave the seat extension Z, so that the flap' y opens the admission mouth of the left-hand compartmentonly a little after the valve It" has shut off the discharge mouth thereof, and closes the admission mouth of the right-hand compartment a little before the flap Z starts opening the discharge mouth of the last named compartment. Simultaneously with the movement of the rack to in the direction'indicated by the arrow the cock 2 is opened and the cock 2 is closed through the mediumof the connecting rods y. The flap g is then'in position to allow filling. of the left-hand compartment (6, Fig. 1), of which the bot-- tom is' closed by the valve k. By. the time the said left-hand compartment is entirely filled, the distributor operates to admit air under pressure into. the cylinder via the pipe 4, whereby the piston of this cylinder causes the rack '10 to move in a direction opposed to that indicated by t arrow and compels the piston of thecylin er a: to expel the air still contained in t elast-named, cylinder into the exhaust pipe 8. By this last movement of the rack w, the valves is and Z are caused to return to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

In the meantime, the distributor has caused air to be admitted into the cylinder 21' via the pipe 2, whereby the rack w is moved in a direction opposed to that indicated by the arrow, causin on the one hand the air contained in the cy inder o to be expelled via the pipe 6 and on the other hand the flap 9 andthe cocks z and z to return to the position shown in Fig. 2, this reversal of the flap 9 taking place, as explained before, a little after the rack to has caused the valve is to reach the end of the seat extension is and being completed av little before the said rack w causes the valve Z to leave the seat extension Z. As soon as the rack w has entirely completed its movement, all the parts thus again occupy the position shown in Fig. 2, wherein the flap gpermits filling of the right hand compartment (f, Fig. 1), of which-the bottom is closed by the valve Z, while he valve is is open to allow of the left hand compartment being emptied.

I claim:

1. In apparatus forcontrolling the discharge of the products, of highest specific gravity eliminated by the separators of plant for separating minerals according to specific gravity'by means of a liquid couveying stream in a launder and upward streams in separators depending from and charge mouth at their lower end; a single reversible distributing flap pivoted to the upper end of said partition and capable of shutting off the-admission month of each compartment alternately while directing the products into the admission mouth of the other compartment, said admission mouths being formed as a seat for the said flap; a pair of discharge valves pivoted to the lower end of the aforesaid partition and each forming in its closed position a bottom for one of the compartments, the discharge mouth of said compartments being formed as a seat forsaid valves; a liquid inlet in the upperportion of the outer wall of each compartment; and an air-entrennected to each compartment above said liquid inlet; all substantially as described,

2.'In apparatus for controlling the discharge of the products of highest specific gravity eliminated by the separators of plant forseparating minerals according to specific gravity by means of a liquid conveying stream in a launder and upward cal partition dividing said easing into two equal compartments having each an admission mouth at their upper end and a discharge mouth at their lower end; a single reversible distributing flap pivoted to the upper end oi said partition and capable of shutting off v the admission mouth of each compartment alternately; a seat for said flap forl'ned round each admission mouth and adapted to keep such flap at a suitable downward inclination towards the upper end of the partition; integral guiding means on said distributing flap for directing, on such flap shutting ofl the admission mouth of either compartment, the products towards the admission mouth of the other compartment; a pair of discharge valves pivoted to the lower endot the-aforesaid partition and each forming in its closed position a bottom for one of the compartments, the discharge mouth of said compartments being formed as a seatfor said valves; a liquid inletin the upper portion of the outer Wall of each, compartment; and an air vent connected to each compartment above said liquid inlet. 7

In testimony whereof I signed hereunto my name.

ANTOINE FRANCE 

